Cleveland Museum of Art

David Victorious over Goliath

Giovanni Battista Foggini

Date

1722

Medium

terracotta

Culture

Italy, Florence, 18th century

Department

European Painting and Sculpture

Institution

Cleveland Museum of Art

This terracotta model was used to cast part of a series of bronzes on religious subjects. Foggini depicted David humbly, a compelling contrast to the more traditional Florentine approach of David as a proud victor. The subject of David was especially important because he had long symbolized Florence: the city was often able to overcome its larger rivals, much like David defeated the giant Goliath. David was a popular figure in Florentine art and often embodied civic liberty.

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